Scott Parker's first match as West Ham head coach ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw at Cardiff, with the visitors recovering from a three-goal deficit. Elsewhere in the Championship, leaders Middlesbrough were beaten 2-0 at Wrexham.
Parker's Return and Early Setback
Parker was confirmed as West Ham's head coach earlier on Wednesday, taking over from Nuno Espírito Santo, who was sacked on Tuesday. The club's former midfielder was appointed on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
Cardiff's Jack Moylan scored a first-half hat-trick, with the opener arriving in the 11th minute at Cardiff City Stadium. His right-foot drive from the tip of the D left visiting goalkeeper Mads Hermansen helpless as it sped into the top left corner. Moylan was then brought down for a penalty in the 37th minute, and the Ireland midfielder got up to score to the left as Hermansen dived right.
Second-Half Comeback
Within two minutes, Will Fish thought he had turned in a corner for Cardiff's third, but Moylan was directly behind him and claimed his hat-trick after making the final touch. After the break, Divine Mukasa reduced the deficit in the 58th minute, finishing calmly over the stranded Nathan Trott after a fine ball over the top from Jarrod Bowen. Arne Engels then capitalised on a mix-up in the home defence to make it 3-2.
In the 82nd minute, Bowen was again the supplier, curling in an inviting cross from the right that was turned in by centre-back Max Kilman to make it 3-3 from close range.
Other Championship Results
At the Racecourse, Wrexham waited until the 70th minute to break the deadlock against Middlesbrough, when George Thomason smashed a shot into the ground from just outside the area, which rocketed past a crowd of defenders and through the unsighted visiting goalkeeper Radek Vítek. Oli Rathbone then made it 2-0 in the 84th minute.
Scott Twine scored a curling free-kick to give Bristol City the lead at Ashton Gate, but Wolves turned the match around with two late goals from Sean Neave, on loan from Newcastle, who came off the bench to score on 82 and 89 minutes to make it a 2-1 win for the visitors.
